Filter sludge remover



April 11, 1950 c. J. GIALLANZA 2,503,816

FILTER SLUDGE REMOVER Filed Dec. 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Charles J. Gfollanza April 11, 1950 c. J. GlAl LLANZA 2,503,816

FILTER sLuDE REMOVER Filed Dec. 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :Y /6 l3 /4 6 5 l8 r o 7 l5 l0 9 E 2 27 h 25 I2 4 I] r k l I/ 1 I k m 23 Inventor Charles J. Gia/lanza WWW? 3% Patented Apr. 11, 1950 FILTER SLUDGE REMOVER Charles J. Giallanza, Hornell, N. Y.

Application December 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,688

3 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in filters used in dry cleaning apparatus and more particularly to a sludge revmover for the filter.

To clean a standard filter is a laborious daily task. The coverof the filter must be removed, the mult'ple screens brushed, the solvent dropped and the cleaning door removed to take out sludge from the bottom of the filter. It is then necessary to replace the above units and refill the system with new solvent. The old solvent must be distilled or clarified before re-entering the system and this is alone an expensive process.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a sludge remover which permits the removal of the sludge quickly and without the dismantling of the filter. Through the use of the invention the filter capacity is increased and the efiiciency and effectiveness of the filter otherwise improved.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a sludge removing device constructed as a part of a standard filter door and which may be applicable to old filters as well as embodied in the construction of new filters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a filter and showing the filter door positioned thereon and with parts shown in section;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on a line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlar ed fragmentary sect onal view of the sliding valve taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspec ive view of one of the operating arms for the valve.

Referring now to the drawings in detail where in for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a standard type of filter of cylinder form and having an opening 6 in its lower front portion closed by a conventional filter door I secured to a door frame 8.

A bracket 9 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the inside of the door and projects inwardly of the filter, the bracket being formed with a vertical bearing in at its inner end. A

vertical agitator shaft II is journaled in the bearing with agitator blades I2 carried at its lower end.

A sprocket I3 is secured to the upper end of the shaft and is driven by a chain 14 from a sprocket l5 secured to a vertical shaft IS, the sprocket I5 being recessed in a chamber I! on the inside of the door and formed by providing a housing I8 which projects outwardly on the outer surface of the door.

The shaft 5 is journaled in the housing and projects upwardly therefrom through a packing gland I9, the upper end of the shaft 16 being provided with a sliding bar type handle 20.

The lower portion of the door is formed with an elongated horizontal clean out opening 2| over which is positioned a sliding valve 22 held in a closed position over the opening 2! by a. plurality of screws 23 having reduced inner ends 24 recessed in the valve.

The screws 23 are threaded through one end of arm 25 while the other ends of the arm are pivoted on pins 26 carried by the door 1 and pro cting forwardly thereof.

Each of the arms 25 includes upper and lower collars 2'! and 28 in which the pins 26 and screws 23 are respectively received and projecting upwardly from the upper collar 21 of one of the arms is a handle 29 to rock the arms on the pins 26 whereby to open and close the valve 22 by a sliding movement thereof.

In the operation of the device the agitator shaft I l and agitator blades I2 are rotated by the handle 20 and chain and sprockets l3, l4 and I5 and by opening valve 22 by a movement of the handle 29 toward the left as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings the sludge in the filter will be agitated and discharged through the opening 2|.

The removal of the sludge is accomplished without interfering with the operation of the filter.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite a parent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a filter tank having an access opening and a removable closure for said access opening; a sludge remover comprising, a support carried by said closure and disposed within thetank, a bladed agitator having an axial shaft rotatably engaging said support, and means carried by said closure and connected to said shaft for rotating said agitator, said closure having a cleanout opening therein, said agitator being rotatable in a plane with said clean-out opening'to force sludge outwardly through said clean-out opening upon rotation of said agitator.

2. In a filter tank having an access opening and a removable closure for said access opening; aisludge remover comprising, :a support car ried by said closure -.and:dispos'ed within-the tank, a bladed agitator having-ran axial shaft rotatablyengaging said support, .a housing rigidly at-- tached to said'closure and having an opening in 0ne -side'thereof, said closure having an opening registering with the opening in said housing, a

drive shaft rotatably supported by said housing, and a drive connection between said drive shaft and the axial shaft of said agitator, said closure having a clean-out opening therein disposed in the plane of rotation for said agitator.

3. The combination of claim 1 and valve means controlling said clean-out opening.

CHARLES J. GIALLANZA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date $19,803 .ERickerd May 8, 1906 1,425,814 Valerius et al Aug. 15, 1922 1,530,659 Force Mar. 24, 1925 1,616,218 Force Feb. 1, 1927 1,625,721 Hahn 1 Apr. 19, 1927 11,812,106 McCullough; .June 30, 1931 2,013,634 .Nor'quis't Sept..3, 1935 2,064,238 'Yegen c n.. Dec. 15, .1936 2,067,105 Stevens'et a1. Jan. 5 1937 2,195,344 :Slaugenhop .Mar. 26, 1940 2,353,602 Trotter July 11,1944 

